Mike Pompeo and Senior US Official visits Guyana amid tension with Venezuela

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Guyana recently, according to President Irfaan Ali, who also stated that he would engage in a courtesy discussion with Pompeo, as is the norm. Daniel P. Erikson, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Western Hemisphere at the US Department of Defense also arrives in Guyana on the 8th of January and is expected to interact with officials on the 9th of January as well.

DASD Erikson’s agenda for the visit to Guyana

Erikson is directly responsible for maintaining and exercising United States defence policies in a region that includes 34 nations, namely in the Caribbean, South and Central America, Canada and Mexico.

The most important take away from DASD Erikson’s visit is that the United States take their bilateral security and defense-based relationship with Guyana quite seriously. Sources have stated that according to the United States, Guyana is a significant partner in terms of ensuring regional security and maintaining peace in the region.

It must be noted that this visit is Erikson’s first for 2024, highlighting the importance of Guyana in US regional policy. As the Guyana Defense Force continues to expand in size with short term requirements in mind, while focusing on positive military to military engagement and exercises, it is also looking to modernize military equipment and defence institutions in the long term.

A fruitful partnership with the United States is of great importance to the nation with such goals in mind as the United States happens to be the leader in terms of defence and security related matters within the region.

DASD Erikson is also meant to discuss United States Defense and Security Partnerships with regional partners, with a special focus on Guyana and its needs in the current moment. To this end, he will be engaging extensively with representative of CARICOM and more importantly with representatives of the government of Guyana and the Guyana Defense Force.

Mike Pompeo’s ‘Private Visit’ to Guyana

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is another significant personality who has visited Guyana recently, highlighting the interest that the United States is taking in Guyana.

President Irfaan Ali himself spoke of the visit, stating the following, “Secretary Pompeo played a very important role in ensuring that Guyana stayed the course of democracy which was very, very key when the last government tried to steal an election and steal democracy.”

Mike Pompeo has a unique and quite bizarre equation with elections as he was deeply embroiled in denouncing the US election results in 2021, as a part of President Donald Trump’s administration.

He was also involved in the conversation surrounding the regional and general elections in Guyana, constantly issuing statements seeking President David Granger’s admittance of defeat.

Pompeo has also been an ardent advocate for maintaining Guyana’s border security and sovereignty in the face of Venezuela’s aggressive pursuit of Essequibo.

This is why he is seen as a key ally by President Irfaan Ali and other high-ranking representatives of the government of Guyana.

Tensions escalate despite Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace

President Irfaan Ali of Guyana and President Nicholas Maduro of Venezuela met on neutral ground in St Vincent and the Grenadines in December 2023, where they agreed on the Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace.

The Peace Talks were mediated by several regional leaders including Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who represented CARICOM, as well as Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The peace talks were also influenced by South American leaders such as the President of Brazil, who had his say through his representative.

One of the main tenets of the declaration stated that the two nations would refrain from using force against each other and address any controversies that arise between them, in accordance with international laws.

Despite this, when the United Kingdom sent the Royal Navy ship HMS Trent to Guyana’s shore to engage in what was called a routine exercise, Venezuela voiced its concerns regarding the move, which led to the mobilization of troops along Venezuela’s border with Essequibo.

Thus, the two nations have seen a rise in tensions despite the best efforts of regional partners to bring them back on amicable terms.

As is expected, the United States has shown its support for Guyana in no uncertain terms which, can be considered a sign of worry from the Venezuelan perspective.

Guyana lacks the military might and numbers to combat Venezuela in a head-to-head conflict. Yet, Guyana has built strategic partnerships with regional partners and has an excellent relationship with the United States and the United Kingdom, which evens the playing field in military terms.

How the two nations will pursue a resolution to their dispute is uncertain but one can state with relative certainty that their regional partners in the Caribbean and Latin America will wish to avoid an open conflict between the two nations.

It is a difficult situation for these nations as they enjoy working relationships with both Guyana and Venezuela.

That is why it is in the interest of the region to continue to facilitate meaningful dialogue between Guyana and Venezuela, in an attempt to find a peaceful resolution that suits both parties involved in the dispute.